Warning signal for hydrotherapeutic systems



April 26, 1938.

Filed July 30, 1952 raiume fietfonsive Swiiclu [72 7-2 for 58 $9 /4?5 I GO; C r.'23 57 35 f 1*24 Green Patented Apr. 26, 1938 UNITED STATES.

PATENT OFFICE WARNING SIGNAL FOR HYDROTHER- APEUTIC SYSTEMS 1 Claim.

This application is a continuation in part of application Serial No. 492,422, filed October 31, 1930, for Systems for hydrotherapeutic treatment.

My present invention relates to systems for hydrotherapeutic treatment, and has particular reference to the construction and operation of warning systems for indicating excessive variations in the temperature of the fluid used for the treatment.

Although the temperature regulating mechanism provided for treatment systems will normally vary the relative proportions of the hot and cold fluid supplies so as to maintain a desired temperature range despite wide variation in their temperature and pressure, an abnormal change in either temperature or pressure'may require a change in the setting of the regulating valves for controlling relative fiow of the hot and cold fluids, or other action on the part of the attendant. It therefore becomes necessary to notify the attendant whenever the temperature of the treatment fluid varies beyond the desired range, and this notification should be made in a manner that will not alarm or unduly excite the curiosity of the patient undergoing treatment.

It is the principal object of my invention to eliminate all gongs or harsh-sounding alarms, and to utilize a single gong stroke or a soft chime in addition to a warning light signal for initial variation from the normal temperature range, to be followed by a buzzer and a danger light signal upon further change.

It has also been found desirable to combine a. remote control with the warning system, and to arrange the remote control so that the warning buzzer may be silenced; the danger light, however, is preferably not included in the remote control, and thus provides a visual signal that is independent of the audible signal.

With the above and other advantageous features in view, the invention includes a novel arrangement of apparatus, more fully disclosed in the detailed description following, in conjunction with the accompanying drawing, and more specifically defined in the claim appended thereto.

The drawing is a diagrammatic view of the wiring connections for an alternating current system with remote control.

The experience of nurses and doctors specializing in hydrotherapeutic systems has indicated that a remote.control for a danger buzzer is desirable, as such remote control permits the attendant to stop the noise of the buzzer; the,

(Cl. 17'I311) danger light, however, should be independent so that the attendant will know which one of several installations should be attended to, and so that inattention will be noticed by the supervisors or other oflicials.

The wiring connections shown in the drawing are preferably used, for a system of this type, the

'specific connections shown being arranged for alternating current use.

Referring to the drawing, an illustrative ar- 10 rangement includes a mechanism 2|, preferably of the thermostatic type, which is responsive to changes in temperature of the treatment fluid, and which has an arm 22 movable in response to the fluid temperature variations, and contact 15 devices which may be set for any desired temperature, and which include two adjustable wiping contacts 23 and two adjustable end contacts 24. The warning signals include a warning green light 31, a warning gong 39, a danger red light 40 and a danger buzzer 42, with control switches and wiring connections as illustrated.

The incoming current passes through the transformer 34 to a fuse block 35 and a main switch 36, and then branches, one branch pass- 25 ing through a green light 31 and then to the temperature responsive switch contacts 23, a second branch passing through a gong switch 38, and the gong 39, to the wiping contacts, a third branch passing through the red light 40 to the 30 end contacts, and a fourth branch passing through the A. C. terminals of a rectifying unit 4|, back to the end contact side of the redlight and through the buzzer 42, a buzzer switch 43, and the lower contact 44 of a D. C. relay switch 35 45 to the A. C. terminal of the rectifier. The D. C. terminals of the rectifier are connected through the upper contact 46 of the relay switch, and through the push button 41 and the electro magnet 48. 40

When the fluid temperature varies, the arm 22 shifts in response thereto. If the change is excessive and beyond the desired temperature limits the arm 22 contacts one or the other wiping contacts 23, which have previously been set at 45 predetermined temperature limits; the switches being in closed position, the engagement of the arm with a wiping contact lights the green light and actuates the hammer of the gong so as to obtain a single audible stroke, the rectifier efiec- 50 tively preventing further actuation of the hammer. If the regulating valves for controlling flow of the hot and cold fluids are not reset bythe attendant, and the temperature variation increases, the arm, or a contact spring (not shown) 5 tact, these having been set for the final limiting temperatures, and the red light lights andthe buzzer is actuated.

When the temperature varies to the predetermined limit, and the arm of the temperature re- I thus causing the lower relay switch contact to break and the upper relay switch contact to make, the buzzer then being cut out; the red light still remains lighted untilthe fluid control valves are adjusted or the main switch is operated.

The described signal systems are therefore simple and eilective in operation, and are readily adapted to suit the requirements of difierent hydrotherapeutic systems and operators. Preterably the signal systems are housed in a control cabinet which may be kept locked to prevent unauthorized access and to eliminate tampering, the cabinet being designed to permit the seeing and the hearing of the signals.

While I have described a specific constructional embodiment of my invention, it is clear that desired changes in the operating procedure, and in the relative arrangement of the parts, may be made to suit the requirements of difierent hydrotherapeutic systems and operators, within the spirit and the scope oi. the invention as defined in the appended claim.

I claim:

An electric signalling system comprising a source it. M. It, a thermally responsive switch ing device having a thermally responsive movable contact element and two insulated fixed contacts disposed in the path oi the movable element, and so spaced that the first of said fixed contacts corresponds to one predetermined temperature, and the second oi said fixed contacts corresponds to a second predetermined diiierent temperature; a first circuit in series with said source of ,E. M. F., said movable element and the first 01' said fixed contacts and including a preliminary warning signal; a second circuit in series with said source of E. M. F., said movable manually operable switch for making said third circuit; and means for maintaining the relay energized,*independent oi the manually operable switch. but dependent uponthe movable contact engaging the second fixed contact.

FREDERICK C. LEONARD. 

